Ready to Read selections

Carefully chosen Ready to Read titles from the ‘early’ and ‘fluency’ levels of the colour wheel are suitable for English language learners.

Teachers’ notes are designed to help teachers use the texts as learning tools for teaching reading and related aspects of English.

Selections

This collection includes titles appropriate for use with English language learners in years 7 to 13.

An extensive set of teachers’ notes enable ESOL and mainstream teachers to integrate English language learning with ‘learning to read’ and ‘reading to learn’ in a range of topics.

Order from Down the Back of the Chair, item numbers:

Insects: 30086

Coping with Crises: 31037

Making It Happen: 30087

Animal Rescue: 31036

Maths in Action: 31888

Design in Action: 31887.

Electronic storybooks

They are a series of stories with audio recordings and teachers’ notes. The stories have been adapted from Connected, Choices and School Journals.

These high interest stories are designed to appeal to reluctant readers in years 5 to 10.

Glossary definitions and activities that encourage students to respond to the text are included.

You can upload these CDs onto school servers or copy them for individual student use at school or home.

Order from Down the Back of the Chair, item numbers:

Freaky Fridge and Other Stories (years 5 to 6): 32998

Frog Pond and Other Stories (years 5 to 6): 31371

Give It a Try and Other Stories (years 5 to 6):31892

The Perfect Birthday Present (years 5 to 6): 33342

Danger Man and Other Stories (years 7 to 8): 33526

Creepy and Other Stories (years 7 to 10): 31375

Plastic Fantastic and Other Stories (years 7 and 10): 33137

Just Swallow this Camera (years 7 to 10): 31987

Swimming with Sharks and Other Stories (years 7 to 10): 27494.

Choices

This is a series of theme-based collections designed to provide high interest reading and listening material for junior secondary students.

The series supports students in a range of curriculum areas.

Danger! was designed specifically for English language learners with a vocabulary level over 2,000 words. An audio tape and teachers’ notes are included.

Out of print.

Applications

This series presents scientific information and examples of technological practice for secondary students in the context of real life problems and experiences.

Concept maps linking to science and technology topics are provided for each title.

Teachers’ notes include specific approaches for science and technology teachers.

Out of print.

Professional development

Effective literacy practice

Three texts that focus on the dimensions of effective practice: knowledge of the learner, knowledge of literacy learning, expectations, instructional strategies, engaging learners with texts and partnerships.

Specific literacy pathways for English language learners are discussed.

Order from Down the Back of the Chair, item numbers:

Effective Literacy Practice Years 1–4: 12940

Effective Literacy Practice Years 5–8: 31324

Effective Literacy Strategies Years 9–13 Literacy Team Guide: 30322

Effective Literacy Strategies Years 9–13 Facilitator Guide: 30323.

Learning through talk

Emphasises the key role of oral language in supporting student learning.

Topics include knowledge of the learner, instructional strategies, engaging learners with talk, expectations and partnerships.

Order from Down the Back of the Chair, item numbers:

Learning through Talk Years 1–3: 33378

Learning through Talk Years 4–8: 33379.

Using the ELLP Matrices: A practical guide to tracking the progress of ELLs

This DVD is a practical guide to making an overall teacher judgement on an English language learner’s ability and stage in the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing as described in the ELLP (English Language Learning Progressions) matrices.

It is designed to be used for individual, small group or whole staff professional development. Each section is up to six minutes in length and shows two teaching colleagues discussing a student’s work and language ability in relation to the ELLP stages.

You can view the DVD content when working through the ELLP professional support modules (see next item).

Making Language and Learning Work – DVDs 1, 2 and 3

The materials model how to personalise learning by supporting students at different levels of English proficiency in a manageable way in mainstream classes.

DVD 1 (secondary maths and science), DVD 2 (secondary English and social science) and DVD 3 (years 5 to 8) provide practical examples of best practice for teaching English language learners in mainstream classrooms. They show how to integrate effective literacy strategies, and how a range of teachers in different subject areas scaffold language and content area learning.

Schools can use the DVDs to provide professional development using the ‘play by principles’ or ‘play by subject’ options.